YANBU — Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah Cricket Association (YACA) beat the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) by one wicket to clinch the Saudi Cricket Centre (SCC) National T20 Championship here recently. Opting to bat first, WPCA scored 172 for seven in 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant innings of 81 by Muazzam. Yanbu overhauled the target off the penultimate ball of the innings for the loss of nine wickets. The explosive Pakistani all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, was present to hand the awards along with Iqbal Sikander, Development Officer of the Asian Cricket Council; Yousef Al-Hijaili, General Manager, Operation and Maintenance Division of Royal Commission, Yanbu; and Nadeem Nadwi, CEO of SCC. Muazzam, who has been consistent throughout the tournament, kept the scoreboard ticking with the support of Waqas (39) and Kashif (25). They did quite well to take the total to 172. Afzal Saleem was the pick of the Yanbu bowlers as he claimed 4-24. Abdullah Khan bagged 2-35 and Shahbaz 2-42. YACA openers Ahmedullah (19) and Nadeem Saad (13) started briskly knowing that the target would be tough to achieve on the newly-laid out astro-turf wicket. WPCA kept taking wickets at regular intervals, but Afzal Saleem, the stylish right-hand batsman, played the match-winning innings of 96 for YACA. YACA needed 69 off the last five overs with five wickets in hand. Saleem scored 45 in three overs along with Salman (11). In the end, it needed 24 off 12 balls and YACA eventually scored the winnings runs on the second last ball of the innings. Shoib Ali, the Best Bowler of the tournament, finished with 4-18 off his four overs. Khuram claimed 2-32 and Shahbaz 2-42. Yousef Al-Hijali, who is also the acting CEO of Royal Commission of Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah, was very happy to see the huge crowd that had turned up for the final. He enjoyed watching the game and said that his knowledge of cricket has increased over time. He announced that the Royal Commission of Yanbu would be organizing the 4th Gulf Cup for the Nationals soon. “The tournament will help improve the participation of Saudi nationals in the game,” he said. According to Nadeem Nadwi four nations — Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and the UAE – will take part in the tournament, which will be held here in March.
